I have reservations at 2 hotels -- both cheap and centrally located. I'm staying only one night on a layover so convenience is important.

The price is pretty much the same -- around 70 USD/night and both places are actually kinda cute.

http://www.betlemclub.cz/en/rooms-photogallery.php
(I reserved a single attic room, but I'm afraid the room won't be warm enough in Dec.)

http://www.prague-hotels-guide.com/kampa_garden.htm

Any feedback on which hotel you think would be better for a younger woman traveling alone, and who only has 22 hrs in the city?

I'd probably take the Kampa Garden, since it is, IMHO, at a nicer location and there won't be any traffic. However, if you arrive/leave after it gets dark, you may feel a little uncomfortable walking through the IIRC not too well lit park getting to the hotel.

If you are going to take public transportation to get to/from the airport/train stations (highly recommended if you don't know the city well enough to realize if the taxi driver is taking you for a ride), getting to the Betlem Club is a little easier, as it is closer to a metro station (~5-10mins walk from Mustek station) whereas Kampa Garden will either require you to take the tram (~5min walk) or take a longer (~15 - 20 mins) walk from the metro at Malostranska.

But other than that, they are both quite central and you won't have any trouble walking to the main attractions.

If you have any more questions, feel free to ask.

David

I'd probably take the Kampa Garden, since it is, IMHO, at a nicer location and there won't be any traffic. However, if you arrive/leave after it gets dark, you may feel a little uncomfortable walking through the IIRC not too well lit park getting to the hotel.

If you are going to take public transportation to get to/from the airport/train stations (highly recommended if you don't know the city well enough to realize if the taxi driver is taking you for a ride), getting to the Betlem Club is a little easier, as it is closer to a metro station (~5-10mins walk from Mustek station) whereas Kampa Garden will either require you to take the tram (~5min walk) or take a longer (~15 - 20 mins) walk from the metro at Malostranska.

But other than that, they are both quite central and you won't have any trouble walking to the main attractions.

If you have any more questions, feel free to ask.

David

Thanks so much for your input. I had planned on grabbing an AAA taxi to either hotel since I'm going to be pretty jet-lagged and out of it. This will be the first night of my trip, so I also figured I'd sleep early and get back to the hotel around 10 pm, hopefully will get up at dawn to take pictures. Do you think that I'd be comfortable walking through the park at these times?

If so, I'll go with the Kampa Garden. thanks again for your help.

I believe you will be fine, especially if you walk back to the hotel from the south side at night, i.e. from the "most Legii" side. But to be sure, I'll ask my aunt who lives in Prague ;) and post it here. When are you planning on going?

If you have any more questions, feel free to ask
David

How great! I'd really appreciate that -- I'll be there in mid-December, mid-week. Not expecting it to to be very crowded during this time of the year, which I think will be quite nice. I love Europe in the winter -- I plan on going back for an extended trip but this was a free overnight layover in Prague so I couldn't resist checking it out, even though I'm sure I'll be in a total daze the whole 22 hrs...

Since I have little time, I'm going to cab or shuttle for airport transport and plan on just walking around all day, won't have much time the next morning, I have to catch an 8:30 am flight to London.

thanks again, I really appreciate your input...

I was in Prague for 2 1/2 weeks in September. (I rented an apartment) I felt quite safe all the time, even walking down semi-lit streets late at night. The trams, metro and buses are quite easy to use. I really liked Prague's public transportation system!

Fishee: I talked to my family and they think you shouldn't have any problems staying at/getting to the Kampa Garden at all.

Enjoy your stay,
David

thanks so much for your help.

any other advice on lunch/dinner for a day would be great!

If you go to the castle, there are several small cafes on the grounds. I ate at the one in the courtyard behind St. Vitus' Cathedral with a bunch of white chairs. Very nice parma ham on ciabatta, wine, water quite reasonable. If it's cold, they have a few lovely tables inside, and you can bring in a hot dog from the outside stand. It was an extremely pleasant meal. (The goulash in bread bowls looked disgusting.)

Even lat the end of October Karlov Most was so crowded with tourists it was difficult to cross. I returned via the next bridge rather than fight the crowds again. They are all there and at Staremestro, some at Wencelas Square. Everywhere else is pleasant, beautiful and uncrowded.

Have a great visit!

I was there last year for the Thanksgiving weekend and it was freezing (snowed one day) and it the town square, Charles Bridge, Castle were very crowded with tourists. I was really surprised by all the people that time of year.

thanks so much for your help.

any other advice on lunch/dinner for a day would be great!

Unfortunately I can't give you any recommendations since when I'm visiting I usually don't spend much time in the city center. It also depends on what you want to do the day you are there. There are plenty restaurants in the tourist areas in the old town (stare mesto), small side (mala strana) and up on the castle. However, these ones are catering to tourists, so while they'll probably speak english and have english menues, you will pay for it.

On the other hand, if you go a few blocks away from the touristy parts, you can find typical czech restaruants (jidelna or pivnice) which serve food for 70-150 crowns, the drawbacks being likely no english menue, rudimentary language skills, no credit card, and, most likely, smoking.

Depending on your "travelling style" and considering that you only have very limited time, I'd probably not worry too much about lunch, instead I'd try to get to the castle and grab a bite somewhere (on the way) up there.
Remember that it will get dark very early (about 4pm), so try to see as much of the outdoor stuff as possible before that.
For dinner, you could look at any of the restaurants around the old town square (Staromestske Namesti) or near your hotel Na Kampe. Or you could just eat (and drink) at one of the christmas markets ;)

David

The Eurostars Thalia just opened last month in Prague -- very modern, beds look comfortable, and best of all, currently $99/night -- $109 total.

Reviews are great and pics looks good.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g274707-d624480-Reviews-Eurostars_Thalia-Prague_Bohemia.html

I think it might be worth paying a little more and staying at Eurostars Thalia rather than the Kampa Garden which is $81/night total (where I currently have a reservation.)

Is the location of Eurostars Thalia O.K.? I'm only in Prague one night and would like to be very centrally located.

David if you're out there -- do you see any potential problem with Eurostars Thalia before I book there? I figure the price difference is worth the comfort after my red-eye flight.

[...]
David if you're out there -- do you see any potential problem with Eurostars Thalia before I book there? I figure the price difference is worth the comfort after my red-eye flight.

fishee,

I don't see any problems. ^

David

thanks so much for the info. I'm looking forward to the Thalia -- looks like an AC or a W type hotel. These seem to be introductory low rates -- but I'll report back.

thanks David!



fishee,

I don't see any problems. ^

David